Dickerson, of Hilliard, Fla., edged Brian Nosler of Lake Oswego, Ore., 1-up in a thrilling match tinged with bitter feelings after Dickerson failed to concede a putt of less than a foot on the 11th hole.

Dickerson, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Florida, holed a chip from the rough at 16 and made a 40-foot putt at 17, dramatic birdies that pushed him from 1-down to 1-up. He clinched the victory with a 4-footer for par on the 18th.

Hamilton, of Carmichael, Calif., defeated Colombia's Manuel Merizalde 2 and 1 by winning four straight holes on the back side.

The 23-year-old Hamilton, who graduated last year from California, failed to qualify for the Amateur six times before finally getting in this year.

He was 1-down after the 11th, then took command by simply making pars. Merizalde started knocking shots all over the course, taking three bogeys and a double-bogey to go 3-down heading to the 16th.

The Colombian kept the match alive with a 15-footer for birdie at the 16th, but a drive into the rough at the next hole ended his hopes of a comeback.

The 36-hole championship is Sunday, with both finalists assured of being invited to the Masters. The winner also can play the U.S. Open and British Open in 2002.

Nosler, a 22-year-old senior at Arizona State, made it to the semis with a comeback victory Friday over defending Amateur champion Jeff Quinney.

Merizalde was trying to become the first foreign-born Amateur champion in 30 years. Canada's Gary Cowan won the second of his titles in 1971.

Reno-Tahoe Open

RENO, Nev.  Jerry Kelly shot a 67 to take a one-stroke lead over PGA Tour novice Bryce Molder in the third-round of the $3 million Reno-Tahoe Open.

Kelly, who has finished in the Top 10 six times this year but has never won a PGA event, carded seven birdies and two bogeys to move past Molder and Charles Howell at 15-under-par 201 on the Par 72 Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Molder, a four-time all-American at Georgia Tech making his debut as a pro on the Tour, birdied the last two holes to shoot a 67 and get to 14-under-par 202.

Howell, the 2000 NCAA champion from Oklahoma State, birdied his first two holes then overcame a pair of bogeys on the back nine to shoot a 69 for a 13-under 203.

Brian Watts, who set a tourney opening-round record with a 64, shot his second consecutive 71 to head into Sunday's final round another three shots back at 10-under.

LPGA Betsy King Classic

KUTZTOWN, Pa.  Moira Dunn shot a 4-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA's Betsy King Classic.

Dunn, seeking her first tour win, had five birdies to move to 14-under 202 at the Berkleigh Country Club. She began the day with a one-shot edge.

The leaderboard remained tight with six golfers within three strokes of the lead.

Heather Daly-Donofrio, also seeking her first victory, had three of her four birdies in the last nine holes to shoot a 68 and sit at 12 under with Mhairi McKay.

Catriona Matthew fired a 67 and was at 11 under with Meg Mallon and Wendy Doolan.

Canadian Seniors

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario  Walter Hall putted his way to the top of the leaderboard in the AT&T Canada Senior Open, shooting a 6-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead.

Hall, the former North Carolina appliance sales manager who has six runner-up finishes in five senior seasons, had only 26 putts on the historic Mississaugua Golf and Country Club course.

He finished at 14-under 199, with playing partner Jim Thorpe a stroke back, and Bruce Fleisher and Tom Kite three behind.

Fleisher, seeking his fourth victory of the year and 15th in 21/2 seasons on the tour, had a 67, while Kite birdied three of the final four holes for a 66.

Scottish PGA

GLENEAGLES, Scotland  Alex Cejka of Germany shot a 6-under-par 66 for a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Scottish PGA Championship.

Cejka moved to 12-under-par 204, one shot ahead of Paul Casey and two shots better than Justin Rose.

Casey, a 24-year-old former U.S. collegiate star in his first pro season, shot a 67 and is at 11-under 205.

Rose had five birdies and two bogeys on the last seven holes en route to a 68. He is at 10-under 206.

Second-round leader Gary Evans shot a 77 and slipped to 16th place. Peter Fowler, one shot behind Evans after two rounds, was tied for 35th after shooting 78.